WHAT ARE THE MISIRIES OF THE CATACOMBS OF KOM EL SHOQAFA?

        Don't you know that the meaning of Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa is 'Mound of shards' or 'Potsherds' ? And don't you know that it is one of the seven Medieval Wonders of the World? Well, if not then read carefully my review about the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa.

        While reading my review, maybe there is a question in your mind like where can we find the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa? or Why is it the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa belongs to the seven Medieval wonders of the World and etc. I hope that this short review of mine can answer those questions on your mind.

         Now, what is the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa? The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa means " Mound of shards" or Potsherds". It is a historical archaeological site located in Alexandria, Egypt and is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. The necropolis consists of a series of Alexandrian tombs, statues and archaeological objects of the Pharaonic funeral cult with Hellenistic and early Imperial Roman influences. Due to the time period, many of the features of the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa merge Roman, Greek and Egyptian cultural points; some statues are Egyptian in style, yet bear Roman clothes and hair style whilst other features share a similar style. A circular staircase, which was often used to transport deceased bodies down the middle of it, leads down into the tombs that were tunneled into the bedrock during the age of the Antonine emperors (2nd century AD). The facility was then used as a burial chamber from the 2nd century to the 4th century, before being rediscovered in 1900 when a donkey accidentally fell into the access shaft. To date, three sarcophagi have been found, along with other human and animal remains which were added later. It is believed that the catacombs were only intended for a single family, but it is unclear why the site was expanded in order to house numerous other individuals. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa is, according to some lists, also one of the seven medieval wonders of the world. One of the more gruesome features of the catacombs is the so called Hall of Caracalla. According to tradition, this is a mass burial chamber for the humans and animals massacred by order of the Emperor Caracalla. Meaning, It is very important or it is very meaningful or memorable for the people of that place.

         In other words, the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, is the Arab translation of the ancient Greek name, Lofus Kiramaikos which means “mound of shards” or “potsherds”. Located to the southwest of the Pompey’s pillar is a multi level labyrinth featuring dozens of chambers adorned with sculpted pillars, statues and other Romano Egyptian religious symbols, burial niches and sarcophagi as well as a banquet room of Roman style, where memorial meals were conducted by relatives of the deceased. The most memorable place of the Romano Egyptians.

            In addition of my review, the catacomb of Kom El-Shuqafa (Shoqafa, Shaqafa) is one of Alexandria's most memorable monuments.  Identified as "a tour-de-force of rock-cut architecture which would be remarkable in any period," the Great Catacomb defies comprehensible description.Its vast, intricately decorated interior spaces cut at so great a depth into the rock present an enormity of experience outside the normal human realm and tell us of a level of technological expertise equaling enterprises of modern subways and tunnels while far surpassing them in aesthetic response. Kom El-Shuqafa is the Arab translation of the ancient Greek name, Lofus Kiramaikos, meaning "Mound of Shards" or "Potsherds." Its actual ancient Egyptian name was Ra-Qedil. The catacombs are unique both for their plan and for its decoration which represents a melding and mixing of the cultures and traditions of the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. It was a place where people seemed to have a talent for combining rather than destroying cultures. Though the funerary motifs are pure ancient Egyptian, the architects and artists were clearly trained in the Greco-Roman style. Here then, we find decorations related to ancient Egyptian themes, but with an amazing twist that makes them quite unlike anything else in the world. That is why, they treasured this monument because of the history and the meaning of this monument. It reminds them the past because it is full of memories of their past.

At the left side, you can see a picture. of the Catacomb of Kom El Shoqafa. The necropolis of the Catacombs of Kom El-Shuqafa (literally means the Mound of Shards or Potsherds) is the most famous and the most visited place in Alexandria . The largest known Roman burial site in Egypt , the necropolis is located in the area of Kom El-Shuqafa (or Koum el Shoqqafa) , near Pompey Column . The necropolis includes a group of Greco-Roman cut-rock tombs that date back to the 2nd century . Since the catacombs were built to house more than 300 dead notables , there are plenty of tombs to explore as well as a banqueting hall . The plan of the tomb is used to be a stairway leading down to a three-leveled burial tomb , around a shaft . The shaft leads to a vaulted vestibule with niches for the mummies . The three-leveled burial chambers expose an impressive architectural achievement since its three levels reach a depth of 100 feet . The tomb ends with a cut-rock burial chamber with a sarcophagus protected by Anubis, Isis  and Nephtis . The scenes echo a blend of both the Greek and ancient Egyptian decorative artwork . There is an unusual combination of ancient Egyptian iconography with Greco-Roman motifs: one relief wall carving shows the jackal-headed Egyptian god Anubis wearing the uniform of Roman soldiers .It is also one of the famous and treasured monument of Alexandria's place and for the people there.

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